Philippe Coutinho: Liverpool reject third Barcelona bid for Brazil midfielder

By Phil McNultyChief football writer

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments577

Liverpool have rejected a third bid from Barcelona for Philippe Coutinho - believed to be in the region of £114m.

Last week, the Reds rejected a £90m bid from the Spanish giants for the 25-year-old Brazil attacking midfielder, who then submitted a transfer request.

Coutinho has missed the opening two games of Liverpool's season with a back injury, but the club has repeatedly stressed he is not for sale.

Despite that, Barca have previously said they are "close" to signing him.

On Thursday, responding to Barcelona general manager Pep Segura's claim that a deal was close, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said: "I don't know why other people are saying what they are saying.

"I don't even know them - especially this guy. I've never even met him."

The La Liga side have moved for Coutinho after selling Brazil team-mate Neymar to Paris St-Germain for a world record transfer fee of £200m.

Coutinho signed a new five-year deal at Anfield in January, which did not include a release clause.

He is also set to miss Saturday's home Premier League match against Crystal Palace (15:00 BST kick-off).

Analysis - 'Reds' mood has not altered'

Liverpool's instant dismissal of Barcelona's third offer is further hard evidence of the determination within the club that they will not be forced into selling their prize asset under any circumstances.

Fenway Sports Group, and manager Klopp, remain unmoved by Barcelona's increased financial inducements - as well as a transfer request from a player who has clearly had his head turned.

Liverpool regard this latest bid, understood to be about £114m, as irrelevant because their stance, as it has been from day one, is that Coutinho will not be sold.

But questions remain. Will Barcelona take the hint and walk away? Will Coutinho, sidelined by a back injury, accept his dream move will not come to fruition and eventually return to the fold? Will his unhappiness increase at the prospect of a switch to the Nou Camp slipping away?

For all the noises coming out of Barcelona that a move is "close", it remains as far away as the day they made their first approach. Liverpool's mood has not altered.

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577 comments

  • Barcelona should cough up the amount that they received for Neymar as a minimum offer. If they don't ir haven't, then they need to get the message that he is not for sale even though he gas put in a transfer request.

  • Where has loyalty gone from players - he signed a 5 year deal with no get out clause - he must have been happy - he should get on with his job - Liverpool
    are a big club won European Cup 5 times same as Barca !!

  • who cares

  • Quite funny this as Liverpool holding back on selling him whilst getting frustrated at Southampton doing same with VVD. A sign that clubs now have the power, so rich that they can knock back these ridiculous amounts.

  • So glad Liverpool are sticking to their guns over Coutinho.

    As I've always said, money drives people to do crazy things!

  • @569 In a market where United have to stump up £90m to a less rich club for a stupid haircut with a Twitter account, Coutinho is worth at least £114m. Since his club have him on a 4.5 year contract and really don't want to sell and his suitors are sitting on £200m cash, he's worth £150m if he's worth £150. Supply and demand. Plus they underpaid us by a good £25-50m for Suarez so F Barca.

  • Why is the BBC not reporting that it's actually £80m staggered over five years on the never-never, and £34m in ludicrous add-ons, including winning La Liga, the CL and the Balon D'Or in one season? The Beeb and Sky are just mouthpieces of Barca like the Catalan press. Why, when they have £200m in their pocket, would anyone accept such a deal? Beeb in the pay of Barca.

  • Does anyone really think Liverpool have made any progress since Klopp's arrival compared to other teams? Why hasn't he bought some quality defenders? Why does he insist on playing Lovren and Moreno? Everyone else can see they are crap - why can't he? Why the same headless chicken game plan - the same wreckless substituions late on? I've had enough of Klopp's summer promises and words of delusion.

  • Coutinho's not even shortlisted for the Ufea player of the year, £114m? He's not even Liverpool's best player

  • The Neymar transfer has lead to a ridiculous level of inflation, there's no way Barcelona would've bid £114m Coutinho a month ago, if he does go for that amount then what exactly is the prognosis for the transfer market?

  • @563 Utd got rid of those players because no player is bigger than than the club (even Ronaldo). Ferguson was great at showing them the door if they showed any sign of wavering in their loyalty! Stam, kanchelskis, ince, beckham, ronaldo, van niatelrooy, keane - big names in that list, but they all went!

    By extension, not selling could suggest that Coutinho is bigger than Liverpool, couldn't it?

  • @555

    If only I was blessed with your wit !

  • If he doesn't want to be there, take the money and buy defenders (also throw in Moreno 'cos he's rubbish).

  • Liverpool shouldn't have to sell if they don't want to, that is their prerogative and Coutinho should have thought through the repercussions of signing a lengthy contract with no release clause. His agent should have told him too, but instead they were blinded by the money (is my bet)!

  • Man U fans must be gutted when they see us hold out nerve against a player wanting to run away just like Ronaldo, Van Nistlerooy, Staam and Co, did. Guess what the mighty red Devils shipped them off as soon as they could.
    And for half the price they could have got, if they did a Liverpool and held their nerves.

  • PC wants to move because he can see the club is going nowhere. If you have quality, which PC undoubtedly has - who on earth wants to be in the same team as Moreno, Lovren, Klavan, Karius, Gomez, Mignolet and Can just to name a few? Klopp has permanently sidelined his best defender - picks rubbish every week and balls up the tactics and substitutions over and over again. Klopp out, FSG out.

  • So Many comments !¬ So many tulips from manchester! BOOM

  • Can we stop with the Loserpool it's so last century.

  • @519 naudekses

    Very true, but in fairness every club in the prem could do the same. Gate receipts are a small % of a clubs income nowadays. TV and sponsor's line the pockets of clubs.
    I was just curious as to who Lfc fans thought the club could attract with the money having sold (?) their best player. Do they realistically think the likes of maybe Benzema or 3or4 decent cheaper players

  • Spurs sold Bale & invested the money, developed young players who are now among the best in the UK.
    Coutinho isn't Bale yet Barca need him to the value of £114M. Take the money & use it wisely.

    If LFC had bought a top centre half, a defensive midfielder & another top striker I would say keep Coutinho & go for the PL title & CL, but they didn't, so they can't - not with that defence, no chance!

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